Electrical cut-out



PATENTED JAN.'5. 1904.

0. B. MoPHBRSON. ELECTRICAL GUT-OUT.

. APPLICATION mum nov. 14. 1902.

no MODEL.

2 sums-sum 1 UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT ()FFI'c ELECTRICAL CUT-O UT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,085, dated January 5, 1904. Application filed November 14.1902. Serial No. 131,337. (No model.)

all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, COLUMBUS B. MOPHER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Schuyler and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Out-Outs, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in cut-outs or compound switches for use with telephone or telegraph lines.

The improved device has been devised to prevent injury to a telephone system at an exchange having a pluralityrof wires connect-.

ing therewith during an electrical storm or when the atmosphere is surcharged with free electricity that is liable to run into a main office or other places to which a number of wires lead in such excessive quantities as to burn out the contributing elements of a switchboard, as well as other instruments cooperating therewith.

- The improved cut-out or compound switch has been constructed to overcome the disadvantages in devices of this class wherein a metallic contact is made directly with ground devices or conductors and under which circumstances parts of the switches or cut-outs as heretofore constructed under this principle have been frequently injured by fusion of the conducting elements, and with this end in view the conductors in the present improved cut-out or switch are causedjo be, depressed or lowered in close proximity to a ground device without touching the latter, and thereby force the excess current coming in over the line-wires to jump from the conductors to the ground devices.

The improved cut-out or switch has also been constructed in compact form, but capable of accommodating a large number of linewires which can all be simultaneously out out by the release or actuation of a single operating element, and conversely the line-wires can be restored to normal condition by a reverse operation of the said element.

The invention also consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts in detail, which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cut-out or compound switch comprising the features of the invention. Fig. 2

is a transverse vertical section of the same, showing the conductors interposed between the parts of the line-wires lowered and in proximity to ground devices.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in the views.

The numeral 1 designates a frame or support comprising wood side bars 2 and upper and lower cross-bars 3, firmly secured to the ends of said side bars. At an intermediate point the side bars are intersected by a supporting cross-bar 4:. The upper and lower cross-bars 3 have openings 5 therein to receive fastening n1 ea nssuch as nails, screws, or the like-whereby the frame 1 and. the entire cut out or switch can be firmly held against the outer portion of a building, such as a tele-,

are a series of metallic contact-posts 6, to

which a plurality of wires 7 are secured. The

wires 7 may be telephone or telegraph instrument wires, and they are firmly held in sepa- 7 rated positions on the bars 3 and 4 by staples 8, though other means may be employed for this purpose.

- From the foregoing it will be seen that eight wires 7 can be accommodated by the cut-out or switch, as shown; but it will be obvious that a less or greater number of wires may be similarly arranged thereon proportionately to the dimensions of the improved device, and to accommodate the increase and decrease of the said wires the contact-posts 6 will be correspondingly increased or decreased in number.

Projecting from the upper and lower portions of the side bars 2 are brackets 9, having supporting-bars 10 secured to their outer ends, and rising from the said supportingbars are con ducting-posts 11,with which mainline wires 12 connect. Hinged to the conducting-posts are a series of metallic conductors 13, secured for simultaneous operation to connecting-bars 14. The conductors 13 are arranged in two sets, as shown, and

each post 11 has one conductor pivotally attached thereto, and all the conductors of each series are secured to a connecting-bar 14. The free ends of the conductors 13 project beyond their bars 14 for contact with the lower ends of the posts 6, and the upward movement of the series of conductors 13 is limited by upstanding angular stops 15, secured to the inner sides of the brackets 9 and with which the opposite ends of the bars 14 engage. The two series of conductors 13, with their bars 14, are simultaneously operated to place them in contact with the posts 6 or to disengage them from said posts through the medium of a pull-cord 16, secured at one end to an eye 17 at the center of the bar 14 of the lower series of conductors and to the center of the bar 14 to the upper series of conductors through the medium of the double eye 18 and then loosely passed through a guide-eye 19 at the center of the upper crossbar 3. The pull-cord 16 extends away from the guide-eye 19 downwardly over the outer portions of the bars 10 any length below the entire device for convenience in operation, and when the conductors 13 are elevated to cause their free extremities to contact with the posts 6 the pull-cord may be suitably secured in a temporary manner'to sustain the engagement of the conductors and posts. When the pull-cord 16 is released, the conductors 13, with their connecting-bars 14, lower by gravity, and for convenience in operating the pull'cord it has a copper or other metallic ring 20 on its free end, which may be caught over a suitable projection when it is desired to maintain the conductors in an elevated position.

The outer edges of the brackets 9 are preferably curved, and thereto are secured metallic strips 21, having loops 22 at their lower ends snugly embracing ground-rods 23, connected at their extremities by metallic rods 24. To the lower ground-rod 23 ground-leads 25 are secured, which may extend away from the cut-out or switch to any suitable ground connection.

Normally the conductors 13 will be held elevated, as shown by Fig. 1, and the main lines 12 and the instrument-lines 7 will be rendered virtually continuous through the medium of the posts 11, conductors 13, and posts 6. During an electrical storm, when the instruments at an exchange or other point are liable to become injured by an excess of electricity flowing inwardly over the line-wires, the pullcord 16 is released and the two series of conductors are permitted to simultaneously assume the position shown in Fig. 2, when their free extremities will be in close proximity to the ground-rods 23 to permit the electrical charge to jump-over the said con- .ductors to the ground-rods and pass oif from the cut-out or switch without fusing the conductors 13 or injuring the instruments or switchboard organization at a central or distributing ofiice. After cessation of such electrical storm the series of conductors can be unitedly drawn upwardlyinto contact with the posts 6, as heretofore explained, and thereby cause the lines and instrument-wires to be arranged in normal or serviceable condition.

When the cut-out or switch is used with a telephone system, the several instrumentsincluded in any one line may be used; but it will be understood that the main ofiice or exchange will not be notified of such use in view of the cut-out which is effected during an electrical storm, as heretofore explained. The improved cut-out or switch can be quickly set up in operative position and will be found exceptionally advantageous in preserving office instruments, exchange-boards, and the like during an electrical disturbance of the atmosphere, and to accommodate difierent applications changes in the proportions and minor details may be resorted to without de-.

parting from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a supporting-frame, posts depending from upper and intermediate portions of said frame and having instrumentwires attached thereto, upper and lower supports having conducting-posts rising therefrom with main-line wires attached thereto, conductors pivotally connected to the said conducting-posts and secured for simultaneous operation in individual series to adapt them to be thrown into contact with or disengaged from the posts having the instrument-lines attached thereto, a pull device connected with both series of conductors for simultaneously operating the same, and grounding devices in proximity to which the free ends of the conductors are lowered to cut out the instrument-wires from the mainline wires and permit the surcharge of electricity coming in over the main-line wires to be carried 011 through the grounding device.

2. In a device of the class set forth, the combination of a series of depending contactposts having instrumentwires connected thereto, a series of vertically-arranged conducting-posts having main-line wires connected thereto, a conductor pivotally attached to each conducting-post and all the conductors connected for simultaneous operation to cause their free extremities to be thrown upwardly into engagement with the depending contact-posts or be disengaged from the latter, and ground connecting devices in proximity to which the free ends of the conductors may be lowered.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

COLUMBUS B. MCPHERSON.

Witnesses:

WILBUR M. DACE, D. L. MOURNING. 

